Over the decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in developing training and policies designed to keep young people safe. Over time, these policies have become standard with organizations across the nation. Now, the Boy Scouts of America is releasing fully updated training to further strengthen our ability to protect youth.
This starts with an enhanced online Youth Protection training course all volunteers and professionals must complete.
Even those Scout leaders who took the previous version of Youth Protection training must log into My.Scouting.org and complete the updated Youth Protection course by Oct. 1, 2018. The updated course will take about an hour to complete. It includes cutting-edge research from the top experts in the field of child abuse prevention. It covers topics like bullying, neglect, exposure to violence, physical and emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse.
Beginning June 1, 2018, all adults who will be present at a Scouting activity for 72 hours or more must register as volunteers and complete a background check and Youth Protection training. This includes parents, merit badge counselors and any other adult who will be there for an extended time.
Who must complete the updated Youth Protection course?
All registered Scouters (volunteers and professionals), including any adult who will be present at a Scouting activity for 72 total hours or more. The updated course debuted in February 2018; if you took Youth Protection training prior to that, you’ll need to complete the updated course by Oct. 1, 2018.
How do I take the updated Youth Protection course?
Here’s a PDF that outlines the steps.
What’s updated in this Youth Protection course?
- Videos from survivors of abuse
- Video interviews with psychologists and law enforcement professionals
- Three all-new training modules and a test.
What are the latest Youth Protection training requirements?
Youth Protection training must be taken every two years.
Effective Sept. 1, 2017:
- No unit may recharter without all leaders being current on their Youth Protection training.
Effective Jan. 1, 2018:
- No new adult volunteer can be registered without first completing Youth Protection training.
- No council, region or national leader will be allowed to renew his or her registration if their Youth Protection training is not current.
Effective June 1, 2018:
- Adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. This includes completing a criminal background check and Youth Protection training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
Additional Resources:
• Overview
• FAQ
• Youth Protection Infographic
• How to Guide for Taking Youth Protection
• Bryan on Scouting Blog